Sam Allardyce coming to Shropshire to light Special Olympics flame
Former England and Premier League manager Sam Allardyce is heading to Shropshire to help light a Special Olympics flame this week.
The 62-year-old will be in Much Wenlock, the home of the modern Olympics, on Thursday to light the flame at the start of the Special Olympics National Games Torch Run.
Chris Hull from Special Olympics GB said: “We are thrilled that Sam Allardyce and the League Managers’ Association have stepped forward to help us.
"This helps to raise the profile of Special Olympics athletes – athletes who have learning disability, often forgotten and told in so many areas of their life what they cannot do.
"The games will show the world what people with learning disability can achieve and demonstrate their great talents.
"This is their chance to shine.”
Special Olympics GB's National Games, which runs from August 8 to 11, is the showpiece event which runs every fours years and will see over 2,500 athletes with learning disabilities take part in 20 sport events across a dozen venues in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
The tenth edition of the games is the largest disability multi-sport event this year, and is being held in Sheffield for the second time - after taking place in the Steel City back in 1993.
With help from the former Crystal Palace and Sunderland manager, the 'Flame of Hope' will be lit in Much Wenlock on Thursday afternoon, before going on a tour of towns and cities over a 10-day period as part of the torch run.
It will be escorted by Special Olympics athletes, sporting figures, city officials, celebrities and representatives from the police.
After travelling over 200 miles, the flame will arrive at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on August 8 in time for the Special Olympics GB National Games Opening Ceremony in front of a crowd of around 20,000 people.
Thursday's event starts at 1pm at Much Wenlock Museum on the town's High Street.
